Over more than four decades, Bruno Rotival took more than 37,000 photographs of monks and nuns in over 80 monasteries around the world. He managed to translate monastery and silence into photographs.
Bruno Rotival – Photographing Silence Read More »
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] In the recent Tablet cover story, A struggle with the silence of the monastery, Sam Hickford, a self-confessed “nature-loving hippie” described his conversion to Christianity. He visited Bakonybél Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Hungary, as a volunteer on a farming project. This introduction to the monastic life –
Praying Rather Than Proselytising Read More »
Monasteries and monastics draw from desert spirituality. They express disciplines that we, outside monastery walls, can draw on also. Some of these disciplines are expressed in vows of stability, obedience, ongoing conversion,… The Associates of Kopua Monastery are offering a Quiet Day in Lent on Saturday 23 March from 9:30am – 3:30pm at Te Waiora
Desert Disciplines for Lent Read More »
This is a reflection from a recent conversation with a 20something young woman. It has much in common with many conversations I have. I need to preface this post by underlining that I don’t play the my-religion-is-better-than-your-religion game. I also need to highlight how much Buddhists and Buddhism have helped me on my own faith
Buddhism Blemished Read More »
At a recent conference I participated in, there was an introduction to Centering Prayer and to the increasingly-popular practice of mindfulness. I have a passion for the contemplative tradition within Christianity and a concern when it seems to me that the ball of that tradition – which today should be accessible to all – is
Christian Contemplative Practice Read More »
In the most recent edition of the Roman Missal (2002), the ancient “Prayer over the People” at the end of the Eucharist was restored – optional on weekdays of Lent, required on Sundays of Lent. For most people the challenge is to reduce the wordiness of our liturgies, to increase silence, and to emphasise the
Prayer Over The People Read More »
I recently had a conversation with a young man who had just completed 10 days in absolute silence, meditating 10 hours a day. This was at a Buddhist centre in New Zealand. 60 people attended. Attendance was free (koha – donation). Yes, there are places in New Zealand where you can go on a silent
Contemplative Community Read More »
Be Still: A book of prayers, images and blessings by Iain Gow (Author), Nat Tate (Illustrator) 94 pages Publisher: Without Walls NZ (December 9, 2014) I recently received Be Still, a book of prayers, images and blessings. Each time, across two pages ,there is a wonderful illustration by Nat Tate, a reflective prayer and a blessing.
